Retractable clothesline support



March 2, 1943.

F. B. CURTENIUS RETRACT-IBLE CLOTHESLINE SUPPORT Filed March 12, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l Q Q N X INVENTOR,

March 1943. F. B. CURTENIUS RETRACTIBLE CLOTHESLI'NE SUPPQRT Filed March 12, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fllilulll A Patented Mar. 2, 1943 UNETED STA ES PTENT OFFICE RETRACTABLE CLOTHESLINE SUPPORT Frederick B. Curtenius, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Application March 12, 1942, Serial No. 434,406

Claims.

This invention relates to clothes drying racks and particularly to those employed in the home for drying the family wash. It has for its ob- J'ects:

First, to provide a new and improved rack of the type described.

Second, to provide such a rack which can be fastened to the ceiling and let down to an easily accessible level for hanging clothes thereon or may be folded up against the ceiling for storage when not in use so as to assure head room when the room in which the rack is installed is used for other purposes.

Third, to'provide such a rack which is inexpensive and may be easily installed.

Fourth, to provide such a rack in which the proper tension on the clotheslines may be maintained when the rack is in use.

Fifth, to provide such a rack in which an automatic cord lock may be employed to give satisfactory tensioning of the clotheslines.

Other objects and advantages pertaining to details and economies of construction and operation will appear from the description to follow. Preferred embodiments of my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig, 1 is a perspective View showing my improved rack in stored position, dotted lines being used to show the rack in position for use.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the rack in greater detail in position for use.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of one end of the rack showing in full lines the means for giving tension to the lines and in dotted lines the position which said means take when the rack is stored against the ceiling.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View showing the manner of attaching the clotheslines.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view through the automatic cord lock showing it in locked position.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view corresponding to Fig. 4, showing a modified form of clothesline attaching means.

My improved rack consists of frames I and 2 which are arranged in spaced opposed relationship to one another. These frames are hinged to the ceiling by hinging to joists such as are shown at 3 with hinges 4 on spaced parallel horizontal axes, so that they may be swung in the same direction from the vertical position shown in full lines in Figs. 2 and 3 to a stored or horizontal position in which both lie in substantially the same plane up against the ceiling, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1 and in dotted lines in Fig.3.

These frames each comprises a bottom member 5 which extends horizontally and a plurality of members 6 perpendicular thereto and extending to a horizontal top member I,

Each perpendicular member 6 of the frame i is provided with a plurality of apertures 8 therein which are in spaced vertical relationship. The perpendicular members 6 of the frame 2 have similar apertures 9. The spacing between the apertures 8 and the apertures 9, however, is different so as to permit adjustment of the-length of the clotheslines in a manner to be described hereinafter.

A pluralityof clotheslines III, which are'fshown as wire lines, are provided. Each line extends beneath the bottom member 5 of each frame and up along the perpendicular member 6. At the end of each line is a fastening member consisting of a fiat apertured plate II which is suitably affixed at I 2 to the end of the line, a bolt I3 adapted to extend through one of the apertures 8 or 9, and a nut I4 suitably knurled as indicated at IE to facilitate its removal from the bolt I3 if it is desired to adjust the length OIf the lines.

The bottom members 5-are suitably notched and rounded as indicated at I6 so that the lines It will not have to extend around sharp corners.

Beyond the end of the rack and located at a point level with the tops of the frames in the direction of swinging of th'eframes as they move from verticalto horizontal position is an automatic cord look I! consisting of -a pulley I8 mounted between side walls I9 on a base 20 and a pivoted wedging locking member 2I and a cooperating stop 22.-v A cord 23 extends from the center of the bottom ofthe frame 2 over the pulley I8 through the cordlock.

In Fig. 5, the cord lock is shown locking the cord. The release of the cord is accomplished by pulling downwardly on the depending portion thereof to swing the'locking member 2I downwardly in a clockwise direction, which frees the cord. The locking is accomplished by pulling the depending end of the cord and swinging it in position to engage the locking member 2| to carry it to the position shown in Fig. 5 by a slight'retraction of the cord. i

I provide stop means 24 hinged on a hing 25 located substantially at the level of the tops of the frames and consisting of a rigid board formed at its free end to engage the bottom 5 of the frame I and of a length to come into engagement when the frame I is in vertical position, as shown in full 7 lines in Figs. 2 and 3 A metal plate 26 is provided to rest on topof the member 5 when-the stopmeml ber 24 is in this position. The end 21 of the plate 26 is bent downwardly so that as the frame I swings down to the vertical position, the bottom 5 will engage the portion 21 and will prevent the member 24 from swinging downwardly past the position shown in Fig. 3.

The stop member 24 is disposed to engage the bottom 5 of the frame I at a point between the spaced perpendicular members 6 so that when the stop member is disengaged it will rest upon the top of the bottom member 5 and will be swung to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3 up against the ceiling for storage when the frame I is swung from the vertical to the horizontal position.

The frames are swung from the vertical to the horizontal position by releasing the stop 24 and by pulling on the depending portion of the cord 23. They are swung from the stored position to the vertical position for use by releasing the automatic cord look by pulling on the depending portion 23. When they have reached substantially the proper vertical position, the operator locks the cord lock II. He then pushes on the bottom of the frame I to swing it to the vertical position, at which point the end of the stop 24 engages the bottom 5 of the frame I. By properly setting the cord lock, it is thus possible to obtain the desired tension on the lines I between the frames I and 2. This arrangement makes it possible to use an automatic cord lock of the type employed here in which there is some backlash after tensioning. By using this look in combination with the other elements described, it is possible to avoid the necessity of providing a cleat for the depending portion of the line 23, which in the average basement with brick or concrete Walls offers a problem of installation for the average householder.

By providing the holes 8 and 9 at different spaces, it is possible to adjust the length of the clotheslines I0 so that all are properly tensioned. With the arrangement of the parts shown, it is a simple matter to get the proper adjustment to make up for a possible bowing of the bottom members of the frames when tension is applied thereto.

The clotheslines serve the dual function of clothes supporting means and means for swinging the frames together as they swing from vertical to horizontal position.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modified form of means for adjusting the tension of the clotheslines. The frame MI is substantially the same as the frame I. It has the bottom member I05 and perpendicular members I06 with a plurality of holes I08 spaced on a vertical line therein. The holes I08 slant downwardly toward the center of the rack. The ends of the clotheslines III), which are here shown as wire, are fastened bymeans of a member I3 which fits within the holes I08. This member is apertured at I28 to receive the end of the clothesline III). It is also apertured axially at I29 and suitably tapped to receive a setscrew I30 which clamps the end of the line I III. The member I I3 is recessed slightly at I 3I so that the cord will bend as indicated in Fig. 6 for firm anchorage.

This arrangement for fastening the ends of the lines is simple and since the apertures are slanted downwardly, there is little opportunity for the members I I3 to become loosened or fall from the apertures I08. The adjustment of the lines for tensioningis very simple with this arrangement since theonly factor involved is merely selecting the proper aperture I08 to receive the member II3 to give the desired tension.

The terms and expressions which have been herein employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described. It is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I Havin thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a pair of vertical frames in spaced opposed relationship hinged at their tops on spaced parallel horizontal axes to swing in the same direction from their vertical opposed position to a horizontal position in which both lie in substantially the same plane, each frame comprising a horizontal bottom memher and av plurality of similarly spaced members perpendicular thereto, each of said perpendicular members having a plurality of spaced apertures therein, a plurality of clotheslines extending between said frames, each extending beneath the bottom member of each framev and along one of said perpendicular members and having at each end a fastening means extending into one of said apertures of said perpendicular members, the length of the clotheslines between the frames being substantially equal to the distance between the tops of the frames, an automatic cord lock and pulley disposedsubstantially at the level of the top of said frames and beyond said frames in the direction in which they swing from vertical to horizontal position, a i line extending through said automatic cord look from the bottom member of the frame, nearest said cord lock, and stop means adapted to engage the bottom of the other frame to resist swinging movement thereof in the direction of the'cord lock comprising a rigid member hinged at one end at a point substantially on a level with the tops of said frames and between said frames and adapted to engage the bottom of said other frame in abutting relationship when it is in vertical position and adapted to slide upon said bottom member when the frame swings and to rest upon said bottom member for support substantially in the plane of said frames'when said frames-are in horizontal position.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a pair of vertical frames in spaced opposed relationship hingedat their tops on spaced parallel horizontal axes to swing in. the same direction from their vertical opposed position to a horizontal position in' which .both lie in substantially the same plane, each frame comprising a horizontal bottom member and a-plurality of similarly spaced members perpendicular thereto, each of said perpendicular members having a plurality of spaced apertures therein, a plurality of clotheslines extending between said'frames, each extending beneath the bottom member of each frame and along one of said perpendicular members'and having at each end a fastening means-extending into one of said apertures of said perpendicular members, the length. of the clothesline between the frames being'substantially equal to the distance, between thetopsof the frames, a pulley disposed substantially at the level of the top of said frames and beyondsaid frames in the direction in which they sw'ing'from' vertical to horizontal position, a:1ineextending over said pulley from the) bottom member. of the frame nearest said pulley, means for fastening said line, and stop means adapted to engage the bottom of the other frame to resist swinging movement thereof in the direction of the pulley comprising a rigid member hinged at one end at a point substantially on a level with the tops of said frames and between said frames and adapted to engage the bottom of said other frame in abutting relationship when it is in vertical position and adapted to slide upon said bottom member when the frame swings and to rest upon said bottom member for support substantially in the plane of said frames when said frames are in horizontal position.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a pair of vertical frames in spaced opposed relationship hinged at their tops on spaced parallel horizontal axes to swing in the sam direction from their vertical opposed position to a horizontal position in which both lie in substantially the same plane, each frame including a horizontal bottom member, a plurality of clotheslines extending between said frames, the length of the clotheslines between the frames being substantially equal to the distance between the tops of the frames, an automatic cord lock and pulley disposed substantially at the level of the top of said frames and beyond said frames in the direction in which they swing from vertical to horizontal position, a line extending through said automatic cord look from the bottom member of the frame nearest said cord lock, and stop means adapted to engage the bottom of the other frame to resist swinging movement thereof in the direction of the cord lock comprising a rigid member hinged at one end at a point substantially on a level with the tops of said frames and between said frames and adapted to engage the bottom of said other frame in abutting relationship when it is in vertical position and adapted to slide upon said bottom member when the frame swings and to rest upon said bottom member for support substantially in the plane of said frames when said frames are in horizontal position.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a pair of vertical frames in spaced opposed relationship hinged at their tops on spaced parallel horizontal axes to swing in the same direction from their vertical opposed position to a horizontal position in which both lie in substantially the same plane, each frame including a horizontal bottom member, a plurality of clotheslines extending between said frames, the length of the clotheslines between the frames being substantially equal to the distance between the tops of the frames, a pulley disposed substantially at the level of the top of said frames and beyond said frames in the direction in which they swing from vertical to horizontal position, a line extending over said pulley from the bottom member of the frame nearest said pulley, means for fastening said line, and stop means adapted to engage the bottom of the other frame to resist swinging movement thereof in the direction of the pulley comprising a rigid member hinged at one end at a point substantially on a level with the tops of said frames and between said frames and adapted to engage the bottom of said other frame in abutting relationship when it is in vertical position and adapted to slide upon said bottom member when the frame swings and to rest upon said bottom member for support substantially in the plane of said frames when said frames are in horizontal position.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a pair of vertical frames in spaced opposed relationship hinged at their tops on spaced parallel horizontal axes to swing in the same direction from their vertical opposed position to a horizontal position in which both lie in substantially the same plane, each frame comprising a horizontal bottom member and a plurality of similarly spaced members perpendicular thereto, each of said perpendicular members having a plurality of spaced apertures therein, a plurality of clotheslines extending between said frames, each extending beneath the bottom member of each frame and along one of said perpendicular members and having at each end a fastening means extending into one of said apertures of said perpendicular members, the length of the clotheslines between the frames being substantially equal to the distance between the tops of the frames, a pulley disposed substantially at the level of the top of said frames and beyond said frames in the direction in which they swing from vertical to horizontal position, a line extending over said pulley from the bottom member of the frame nearest said pulley, means for fastening said line, and stop means adapted to resist swinging movement thereof in the direction of the pulley.

FREDERICK B. CURTENIUS. 

